Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



J. T. COWLEY. PNEUMATIG DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APB..10, 1907. 1,086,443. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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J.- T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APE.10, 1907.

1 086,443. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 50., WASHINGTON. LL 1:4

J. T. COWLEY. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 10, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSO'N COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH-TUBE APPARATUS.

Application filed April 10, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. COWLEY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Despatch-Tube Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, and particularly to the so-called all-sealed system, wherein a vacuum is maintained and carriers are driven therethrough by the admission of atmospheric pressure through an inlet provided for that purpose.

The object of my invention is to automatically open the pressure-admission inlet upon the despatching of a carrier by utilizing the flow of air caused by the opening of a valve for the insertion of the carrier.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodying my in vention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a pneumatic tube system embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the air inlet and timing mechanism in normal or non-operating position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in operating position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view partly in section showing valve mechanism at the central station; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the valve mechanism at a sub-station; Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 5.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Fig. 1: A is a tube for the transmission of carriers from the central station C to the sub-station S and connects at said sub-station with the ordinary delivery terminal D; E is a transmission tube for the return of carriers and connects the terminal D with the terminal G. H is a vacuum tube connecting the terminal G with the drum J. K is an air-supply pipe connecting with the transmission tube A at the central station and controlled by the timing mechanism L. The timing mechanism consists of the cylinder L having an upper chamber L connecting with the air-supply pipe K. Mounted in the lower part of the cylinder L is a piston L fixed to the lower end of the piston rod L" the upper end of said piston rod carrying the valve L adapted to control the admission of air into the chamber L and air-supply tube K. The chamber in the cyl- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 367,437.

inder L directly above the piston is normallyan communication with the vacuum in the pipe H, and connecting this chamber with the chamber below the piston L is a by-pass L controlled by the timing screw L. L is a valve adapted to admit air into the cylinder below the piston L This valve is pivoted at L to the link L one end of which link L is pivoted at L to an extension on the cylinder L. The opposite end of the link L" is pivoted to a latch bar L. A spring L is adapted to hold the latch bar L against the projection L and a spring L normally holds the valve L seated. Pivoted at L in the vacuum tube H is a wing or valve L normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring L. A pawl L is carried by and adapted to be operated by the wing or valve L to engage a lip on the latch bar L. B is a valve normally closing the bell mouth or transmission tube A at the central station C. This valve is loosely pivoted on the shaft B to which is fixed the handle B carrying the pivoted latch B. On one end of the shaft B is fixed a crank connecting through the link B and crank 13 with a valve l8 pivoted in the vacuum tube H. The handle B is normally held in upright position against the stop 13 by means of a spring around the shaft B. A similar valve F normally closes the despatching inlet in the tube E at the sub-station S, said valve being loosely pivoted on the shaft F. A handle l3 fixed to the shaft F carries the spring latch F and the shaft F is connected through a link F and crank F 3 with the valve F located in the tube E.

The operation is as follows: The operator in despatching a carrier from the central station C to the sub-station S lowers the handle B until the latch B engages the valve B; the handle is then raised together with the valve B and the carrier inserted into the tube A; while said valve is being lifted, a flow of air is started in the tube H and acting on the wing L moves said wing or vane from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3; this movement of the wing through the pawl L raises the latch bar L opening the valve L admitting air and destroyingthe vacuum maintained through the by-pass L The piston L is now lifted by the atmospheric pressure underneath to the position shown in Fig. 3

opening the valve L and admitting air to the air supply pipe K causing the carrier to be driven through the transmission tube A. In the meantime, the inlet valve B has been closed by reason of the latch engaging the stop B and releasing said valve. The valve L has also been closed by reason of the pawl L passing and releasing the latchbar L The air beneath the piston L is now gradually exhausted through the passage L and the piston slowly descends by gravity until the valve L is closed and the carrier has discharged at the sub-station S. The descent of the piston L is timed by the screw 6 to the interval necessary for the transmission of the carrier. When the valve L is closed shutting oh? the flow of air, the wing L is returned to the position shown in Fig. 2 by spring L and is now ready for timing another carrier. If the operator should desire to despatch a carrier through the tube A while another carrier is in transit, the handle B is lowered engaging and lifting the valve B, in the meantime through the link B and crank B closing the valve B shut-ting ofi the flow of air in the tube H and allowing the wing L to assume the normal position shown in Fig. 2, so that when the valve B is released by the latch B (after the carrier has been inserted in the tube A) the valve B has been opened and the flow of air operates as hereinbefore described to admit air again beneath the piston L and fully open the valve L In returning a carrier from the sub-station S to central station G, the operation is as hereinbefore described except that the handle F is used to open the valve F to permit the insertion of the carrier into tube E, the valve being released and closed by the latch F engaging the stop F The valve F is operated by handle F to out OK the flow of air in the tube H in case it is desired to despatch a carrier while another is in transit.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a normally closed system comprising send ing and return carrier transmission tubes communicating atthe carrier discharge end of the sending tube and the carrier insertion end of the return tube and with each tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, an air-supply pipe communicating with the carrier in sertion end of the sending tube, a valve controlling said air-supply pipe, an air-exhaust pipe communicating with the carrier discharge end of the return tube, a cylinder communicating at one end with said exhaust pipe and at the other end with the external air, a valve normally closing the communication of said cylinder with the external air, a piston in said cylinder connected with said valve controlling the air-supply pipe, and means, including a- Vane displaceable by the impact of a current of air flowing through at least a part of said system, for momentarily opening the valve controlling the external air communication of said cylinder to admit outside air into the cylinder to move the piston to open the valve controlling the air-supply pipe to admit external air through the air-supply pipe to the system, said vane having a tendency for movement toward a position from which it is displaced by said current of air impinging thereagainst.

2. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a normally closed system comprising sending and return carrier transmission tubes communicating at the carrier discharge end of the sending tube and the carrier insertion end of the return tube and witheach tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, an air-supply pipe communicating with the carrier insertion end of the sending tube, a valve controlling said air-supply pipe, an air-exhaust pipe communicating with the carrier discharge end of the return tube, a cylinder communicating at one end with said exhaust pipe and at the other end with the external air, a valve normally closing the communication of said cylinder with the external air, a piston in said cylinder con nected with said valve controlling the airsupply pipe, a spring-pressed valve in said exhaust pipe movable against the action of its spring by a fluctuation of pressure in the system, a pawl on said springpressed valve, and a latch-bar connected with the valve controlling the external air opening of said cylinder adapted to be engaged by said pawl to move the last mentioned valve to open the cylinder to external air to move the piston to open the valve controlling the airsupply pipe to admit external air to the system.

3. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a normally closed system comprising sending and return carrier transmission tubes communicating at the carrier discharge end of the sending tube and the carrier insertion end of the return tube and with each tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, an air-supply pipe communicating with the carrier insertion end of the sending tube, a valve controlling said air-supply pipe, an exhaust pipe communicating with the carrier discharge end of the return tube, a valve in said air-exhaust pipe operating toclose such pipe when the carrier insertion valve is opened, a cylinder communicating at one end with said exhaust pipe and at the other end with the external air, a valve normally closing the communication of said cylinder with the external air, a piston in said cylinder connected with said valve controlling the airsupply pipe, and means adapted to co -act with said valve in the air-exhaust pipe and actuated by a fluctuation of pressure in the system established in part at least by said exhaust pipe closing valve for momentarily opening the valve controlling the external air communication of said cylinder to admit outside air into the cylinder to move the piston to open the valve controlling the airsupply pipe to admit external air through the air-supply pipe to the system.

4. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a normally closed transmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, an air supply conduit communicating with the carrier insertion end of said tube, a valve controlling said air supply conduit, an air exhaust pipe, connections between said pipe and the carrier dis charge end of said transn'lission tube, pneumatically operated mechanism for actuating said valve, a controlling valve for said mechanism, and means including a vane displaceable by the impingement thereagainst of a current of air flowing through at least a part of said system, for actuating said controlling valve for said mechanism, said vane having a tendency for movement toward a position from which it is displaced by said current of air.

5. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a no in-ally closed transmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, an air supply conduit communicating with the carrier insertion end of said tube, a valve controlling said air supply conduit, an air exhaust pipe, connections between said pipe and the carrier discharge end of said transmission tube, pnemnatically operated mechanism for actuating said valve, a controlling valve for said mechanism, means, including a vane displaceable by the impingement ther against of a current of air flowing through at least a part of said system, for actuating said controlling valve tor said mechanism, said vane having a tendency for movement toward a position from which it is displaced by said currentof air, and means, having an operating part adjacent an insertion valve 01"? said tube, for impeding said current of air if the latter be flowing.

6. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a normally closed transmission tube provided at its oppositeends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, an air supply conduit communicating with the carrier insertion end of said tube, a valve controlling said air supply conduit, an air exhaust pipe, connections between said pipe and the carrier discharge end of said transmission tube, mechanism for actuating said valve, a controlling part for said mechanism, and means, including a member displaceable by the impingement thereagainst of a current of air flowing through at least a part of said system, for actuating said controlling part, said member having a tendency for movement toward a position from which it is displaced by said current of air.

7. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a normally closed transmission tubeprovided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, an air supply conduit communicating with the carrier insertion end of said tube, a valve controlling said air supply conduit, an air exhaust pipe, connections between said pipe and the carrier discharge end of said transmission tube, mechanism for actuating said valve, a controlling part for said mechanism, means, includ ing a member displaceable by the impinge ment thereagainst of a current of air flowing through at least a part of said system, for actuating said controlling part, said part having a tendency for movement toward a position from which it is displaced by said current of air, and means, having an operating part adjacent an insertion valve of said tube, for impeding said current of air if the latter be flowing.

8. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a normally closed transmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, means, including an air supply valve for establishing a carrier propelling current of air through said tube,

and mechanism for controlling said air supply valve, said mechanism adapted to be actuated by a marked dii'ninution of the flow of air in said tube followed thereafter by an increased flow of air therethrough, and means, having an operating part adjacent said insertion valve of said tube, for impeding said carrier propelling current of air, if the latter be flowing, preparatory to the actuation of said mechanism in manner aforesaid.

9. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a normally closed transmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, means, including an air supply valve for establishing a carrier propelling current of air through said tube, and mechanism for controlling said air supply valve, said mechanism adapted to be actuated by a marked diminution of the flow of air in said tube followed thereafter by an increased flow of air therethrough, and means, having an operating part connected to said insertion valve of said tube, for impeding said carrier propelling current of air, it the latter be flowing, preparatory to the actuation of said mechanism in manner aftafesaid.

10. In a pneumatic despatch tube system,

a normally closed transmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, means, including an air supply valve for establishing a carrier propelling current of air through said tube, and mechanism, for controlling said air supply valve, said mechanism adapted to be actuated by a marked diminution of the flow of air in said tube followed thereafter by an increased flow of air therethrough, and means, for impeding a previously established carrier propelling current of air whenever a carrier is subsequently introduced into said system during the continuance of said previously established cur rent.

11. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a normally closed transmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, means, including an air supply valve for establishing a carrier propelling current ofair through said tube, and mechanism, for controlling said air supply valve, said mechanism adapted to be actuated by a marked diminution of the flow of air in said tube followed thereafter by an increased flow of air therethrough, and means, for impeding a previ ously established carrier propelling current of air whenever a carrier is subsequently introduced into said system during the continuance of said previously established current, said mechanism having provisions for normally limiting the duration of said air current to a determined interval;

12. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, atransmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, a device responsive to the pressure of air thereagainst and actuated by a change in said pressure, a main valve for controlling the flow of air through said tube, and mechanism, controlled by said device, for actuating said valve, said mechanism including a member, movement of which from a determined position starts said mechanism, and a trip connection between said device and said member for displacing said member only momentarily, when said device is operatively actuated by said change in air pressure, said trip connection there after permitting of the return of said memher to said determined position substantially regardless of theposition of said device.

13. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a transmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, a device responsive to the pressure of air thereagainst and actuated by a change in said pressure, a main valve for controlling the flow of air through said tube, and pneumatically operated mechanism, controlled by said device, for actuating said valve, said mechanism including a pilot valve, movement of which from a determined position starts said mechanism, and a trip connection between said device and said pilot valve for displacing said pilot valve only momentarily, when said device is operatively actuated by said change in air pressure, said trip connection thereafter permitting of the return of said pilot valve to said determined position substantially regardless of the position of said device.

1a. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a transmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, a vane responsive to the pressure of air thereagainst and actuated by a change in said pressure, a main valve for control ling the flow of air through said tube, and pneumatically operated mechanism, controlled by said vane, for actuating said valve, said mechanism including a pilot valve, movement of which from a determined position starts said mechanism, and a trip connection between said vane and said pilot valve for displacing said pilot valve only momentarily, .when said vane is operatively actuated by said change in air pressure, said trip connection thereafter permitting of the return of said pilot valve to said determined position substantially regardless of the position of said Vane.

15. In a pneumatic despatch tube system, a transmission tube provided at its opposite ends with carrier insertion and discharge valves, a device responsive to the pressure of air thereagainst and actuated by a change in said pressure, a main valve for controlling the liow of air through said tube, and mechanism, controlled by said device, for actuating said valve, said mechanism including a member, movement of which from a determined position starts said mechanism, and a trip connection between said device and said member for displacing said member only momentarily, when said de vice is operatively actuated by said change in air pressure, said trip connection thereafter permitting of the return of said mem ber to said determined position substantially regardless of the position of said device, said device having a tendency to return substantially idly to the position from which it is displaced by said change in pressure when permitted by a reverse change in pressure of the air in contact therewith.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 22nd day of March A. D. 1907.

JAMES T. COWLEY. Witnesses DELIA S. Pnrnason, .VILLIAM IVILGOX.

Copies of this patent-may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the iiommissioncr of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

